Forty-four undocumented immigrants were found crammed inside a suffocating backyard shed at a North Park residence, leading to the arrest of 51-year-old Dania Olivero, a Cuban national, on federal charges of harboring and concealing. According to court records, many of the immigrants were locked inside the windowless, poorly ventilated structure with no access to a bathroom, surviving on minimal food and water.
The bust unfolded after neighbors in the 4900 block of University Avenue called San Diego Police, alarmed by repeated drops-off of individuals who scurried into the home. When officers arrived, Olivero claimed she was hosting a beer party. But the scene told a different story—unopened cans sat untouched, and people scattered toward the backyard at the sight of law enforcement, indicating fear and coercion.
San Diego Police, suspicious of human smuggling, brought in U.S. Border Patrol. Agents questioned everyone inside and found that 42 identified as Mexican nationals without legal status, while two others were Guatemalan nationals also here illegally. All 44 were taken into custody, with seven held as material witnesses and the rest transferred to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.
Olivero now faces a single count of harboring and concealing under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii). If convicted, she could spend up to 10 years in federal prison and face a $500,000 fine. The case, assigned number 16mj3460, was filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego on November 7, 2016.
Investigators described the backyard shed as deplorable—pitch black, airless, and reeking of human waste. Some immigrants reported being held for days, fed only once daily, and threatened if they tried to leave. The conditions have raised red flags about possible human trafficking ties, though no additional charges have been filed beyond harboring.
The investigation was jointly led by the U.S. Border Patrol and the San Diego Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Conover, who is prosecuting the case, stressed that the charges are accusations, and Dania Olivero is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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